REIMAGINING FASHION FROM KAMPALA: KATENDE GODFREY ON AFRICAN IDENTITY, STORYTELLING, AND SUSTAINABILITY

In the latest episode of the Good to Great Podcast, host Tamara Héjja sat down with Ugandan designer Katende Godfrey, a visionary voice in African fashion whose work transcends aesthetics to embrace culture, identity, and sustainability. Katende, who serves as Co-founder and CEO of IGC Fashion, is more than a designer. He is a cultural leader, mentor, and creative innovator who sees fashion as a transformative force.

For Katende, fashion is not merely about how clothes look; it is about what they represent, whose stories they tell, and how they shape communities. His work reflects the conviction that fashion, when guided by purpose, can redefine how the world perceives Africa and how Africans perceive themselves.

Katende Godfrey | Co-Founder & CEO of IGC Fashion

Afrofuturism as a Lens for Storytelling

At the center of Katende’s philosophy is Afrofuturism, a creative framework that merges African traditions with imaginative visions of the future. For him, Afrofuturism is not a fleeting trend or artistic experiment but a mindset that gives African creatives the freedom to imagine possibilities beyond imposed limitations.

“Afrofuturism gives us the permission to imagine Africa on our own terms,” Katende explained during the interview. “It’s not about nostalgia or mimicry. It’s about projection, about possibility.”

In practice, this means his designs go beyond surface beauty. They are infused with symbols, silhouettes, and motifs that evoke both ancestral memory and futuristic ambition. A single garment might weave together influences from Ugandan folklore, local textile traditions, and speculative visions of what African societies could look like decades from now.

By combining heritage and imagination, Katende creates clothing that feels simultaneously rooted and revolutionary. His work challenges dominant fashion narratives that often reduce African design to colorful prints or “ethnic” aesthetics. Instead, Afrofuturism allows him to present Africa not as a subject of history but as an author of the future.

African Fashion and Identity

Katende spoke passionately about the core identity of African fashion, noting that it is less about appearance and more about philosophy. For him, African fashion carries with it values of originality, pride, and a deep sense of community.

“African fashion doesn’t follow trends. It creates its own rhythm,” he observed. “We design from who we are, not from what the world expects.”

This emphasis on authenticity is not only cultural but also political. For decades, global fashion systems often marginalized African designers, treating them as peripheral to Paris, Milan, or New York. Today, however, a new wave of African creatives is asserting autonomy. They are no longer waiting for approval or validation. They are building their own platforms and global networks.

Katende pointed out that the growing recognition of African fashion is not about inclusion but leadership. “We’re not asking for a seat at the table anymore. We’re building our own table.”

From Lagos to Nairobi, Accra to Kampala, this spirit of self-definition is driving a renaissance. Fashion becomes a declaration of independence, reclaiming narratives that were once distorted or ignored.

“Africa Has Always Been Sustainable”

Perhaps the most profound segment of the conversation came when the topic turned to sustainability, an urgent concern in the global fashion industry. While many Western fashion houses scramble to implement “eco-friendly” practices, Katende made it clear that sustainability is not new to Africa.

“Africa has always been sustainable,” he asserted.

In Uganda, and across the continent, resourcefulness has long been a cultural norm. Clothes are repaired, fabrics are reused, and nothing is wasted. Materials are treated with respect, and garments are often passed down through generations. What the global North is now labeling as “sustainable fashion” is, in Africa, simply a way of life.

At IGC Fashion, this ethos is at the core of operations. The label uses locally sourced, natural, and upcycled materials, creating pieces that minimize environmental impact. Production involves collaboration with community artisans, ensuring that fashion not only avoids harm but also generates livelihoods.

By resisting the throwaway cycles of fast fashion, Katende positions his brand as part of a broader cultural inheritance of sustainability. In his view, fashion’s future depends not on adopting new technologies alone but on re-learning ancient practices of stewardship.

Fashion as Language and Legacy

Beyond aesthetics and ecology, Katende emphasized fashion’s role as storytelling and memory. In Africa, garments have long carried symbolic meaning, communicating identity, status, community, and history.

“Every print, every stitch, every symbol, they all carry stories,” he said. “Fashion becomes a visual language, one that travels across time and place.”

This way of seeing fashion positions clothing not as disposable but as archives of identity. A dress or jacket is more than fabric; it can embody ancestral wisdom, regional traditions, or even personal milestones.

Through his work, Katende seeks to preserve heritage while projecting new possibilities. His garments serve as bridges between generations, reminding wearers of where they come from while pointing toward where they might go. In this sense, fashion becomes a cultural document, as significant as any text or oral history.

Looking Forward: Africa as a Leader

When Tamara asked about the future, Katende responded with both confidence and humility. His vision is not of catching up to global fashion centers but of redefining them altogether.

“Our goal isn’t to catch up,” he said. “It’s to lead. We’re not just part of the conversation, we’re setting the direction.”

For him, leadership means demonstrating that African fashion can shape global aesthetics, values, and systems. It means offering models of sustainability that the world urgently needs, as well as design vocabularies that expand how creativity is defined.

The ambition is bold but not unrealistic. Already, African designers are being showcased at international fashion weeks, stocked in global boutiques, and featured in major publications. More importantly, they are building infrastructures at home: training young talent, strengthening textile industries, and creating pathways for long-term growth.

Katende envisions a future where Kampala, Lagos, Johannesburg, and other African cities stand as global fashion capitals, not as exotic additions but as leaders in innovation, storytelling, and resilience.